EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in Belgrade on Friday that the organization she represents “sees Serbia’s European future.”
She stated that she was “ready for the first negotiating chapters to be opened this year.”
“And my main message here is not only that Serbia is firmly on the path towards the European Union, but also that the Union is ready for the opening of negotiating chapters this year. It is of mutual importance,” she during a joint news conference with Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.
Mogherini “thanked Vucic for his leadership, especially when it comes to the implementation of economic reforms, implementation of the agreement from Brussels, as well as the hard work in the field of European integrations.”
“Be assured that I am personally ready and that the EU is ready to go the kilometers that are ahead of us together,” she was quoted as saying.
When asked about her statement made in Pristina on Thursday about Serbia and Kosovo being “two sovereign states” – Mogherini said that it was made during “an frank colloquial exchange with students,” and that she “mentioned the two sides in the negotiations,” but that it was “not up to the EU to define the sides.”
“I stated explicitly that five (EU member) states have not recognized Kosovo,” said Mogherini.
She then “thanked Serbia for the manner in which it chairs the OSCE, and in its participation in EU missions around the world.”
“The chairmanship of the OSCE is very important for the EU, we have good cooperation, and the government has indicated its willingness to strengthen this cooperation,” said Mogherini.
While in Belgrade, she also held meetings with President Tomislav Nikolic and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.
